I would be interested of hearing from anyone with ADD who has been practicing vipassana meditation successfully for a period of time. I suspect that it may be a / the only possible solution to many ADD symptoms, and I would like to begin gathering data to support this hypothesis. I have had very favorable initial experiences and would like to know if anyone has taken this process further than I have. Thank you for your help.

Hi franklin, I'm interested to know what vipassana meditation is?
And in what way s it helped you.
Thanks

I don't have any specific experience with this type of meditation. The experience I do have is with another old tradition. I too think that much of what hinders me is helped with regular meditation. Finding the discipline and the time to practise is another matter.
Please keep us posted as you go along.
Cheers! Ian.

Vipassana is a ancient form of buddhist meditation, however, it can be practiced without any religious aspects whatsoever (as I do). It is a method of systematically improving your attention, by training yourself to be aware of what is happening, and in what may sound like a bit of double-speak, to be aware of what you are aware of. By practicing vipassana, you develop your powers of attention in the same way that lifting weights builds your muscles.

I suspect, based on research and my own personal experience with meditation, that it may be the key to solving non-attentive ADD. A skilled vipassana meditator can focus on one thing and
immediately become aware of when their attention has shifted, allowing a smooth return to the original thought.

I currently take Adderall to help with my lack of attention control, and it helps, but its effects have been unpredictable so I do not have confidence that it will be a permanent cure. It is a helpful start, but is not enough to keep my concentration under my control. Because of this, I have been diligently practicing vipassana meditation, working on my ability to focus my attention on something and keep my attention on that thing, only switching to a new object of attention CONSCIOUSLY.

My personal experience has definitely been favorable and gives me confidence that it will work. But it is only fair to warn you that it takes a tremendous effort and commitment. If you are interested in learning more about it, the book that got me started is called Mindfulness in Plain English, by H. Gunaratana. A free copy is online at http://www.realization.org/page/namedoc0/mipe/mipe_0.htm. Another good book is Diamond Mind by Robert Nairn. A third good resource is the Wildmind web site at http://www.wildmind.org/. If you give it a shot, I wish you good luck!

Thankyou franklin, I don't know if I can have the commitment it takes? I will check out the links.

I have also practiced Vipassana, I do it within a religious framework, but I do notice a difference between when I practice it regularly and when I become slack. I agree that meditation will help with the control of attention, but I also warn anyone of thinking it is some type of panacea. ADD/ADHD is a phislological/Biochemical disorder at its basis. It is certainly exacerbated by our own psychological idiosyncracies, and so meditation will help with that aspect of it; therefore, eliviate a majority of frustration and symptoms. One will always have to deal with ADHD/ADD on some level, however, just because of its physiological basis. I do believe that you can take the symptoms from life-damaging to managable with regular meditation, though. I'm not sure it has to be soley Vipassana. Any awareness/enlightenlment meditation will give similar results.

Good luck with your research. I would be interested in what evidence you find.

MM

Here's another book that someone recommended: "When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chodron

You can search and read bits of it on amazon.com

I too have used Vipassana for my inattentive ADHD. I began after reading Mindfulness in plain english as is mentioned in another post. My medication work for my outward symptoms, i.e. my legs aren't twitching and I'm a little calmer. However, first when I began medication (ritalin + zoloft) my focusing ability improved dramatically. Over time the effect diminished (2-3 months). Now I only get the effect after canceling the SSRI medicine for a certain amount of time, and then begin taking them again. Then it lasts about a week and then withers out. I've tried many SSRI and SNRI and tricyclics (Efexor, Zoloft, Seroxat, even Bupropion) and others too (Modafinil (Provigil), Amphetamine, Concerta, Ritalin, Strattera, Paxal to name a few). A good meditation session gives me a similar effect for the remainder of the day. It really is amazing. It's a special feeling of calm that is hard to describe.
I have been reading up on meditation research and it is clear that meditation changes your brain permanently, if done for a long time. Yes, it rewires your brain. It's just like lifting weights. Your brain "muscles" perform better. The effect can be similar to taking hallucinogens like LSD, however it is a much safer method. I just ordered the book Zen and the Brain by a Zen buddhist (Zen meditation is similar to Vipassana) who is a neurologist where he explains the chemical and neurological effects on the brain during and after meditation.

Vipassana requires at least 30 minutes a day. However, it is worth it. I hope in the long term it may fix some of my inattentive problems for good or at least help me cope with them.

Good luck with your research and exploration.

Franklin21-

I have tried meditating for a while now and I am unclear about the depth of the benefits. I noticed your post in 2004. Are you still meditating?

Edward238

Hi. Vow long time since I was here.

I don't meditate any more, but sometimes use relaxation techniques very similar to meditation. It helps a lot relaxing, but isn't good for inattention.

Good luck.